Kintsugi From $75/mo · Free plan 9.1 Visit VAT Direct
vat.direct
What it is
VAT Direct provides software for submitting VAT and Self Assessment returns and accessing VAT information through the Exedra platform. Users can send VAT return data from spreadsheet-generated CSV files, keeping their existing accounting system for that process. Its online cashbook holds VAT and Self Assessment records and supports cash-basis or standard VAT accounting. Supported schemes include Flat Rate, retail and margin schemes, traditional and EC VAT, and the Domestic Reverse Charge; it also tracks CIS payments. Open Banking can load statements from multiple bank, cash, and credit-card accounts into the cashbook. An API offers bank statement and HMRC tax information after login and authorisation. The free digital-record service is limited to 500 transactions per period and requires cash-basis accounts. The site says data is processed in the UK, includes anti-fraud headers, and offers optional two-factor authentication by text message or a similar method. The cashbook does not currently handle FRC Taxonomies. The basic service is free; users must contact the provider for details about premium services.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- VAT Direct provides Making Tax Digital submission of UK VAT and Self Assessment returns through Cirrostratus’s Exedra platform.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Purpose
- VAT Direct provides software for submitting VAT and Self Assessment returns and obtaining VAT information using the Exedra platform.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Security
- The site says it includes anti-fraud headers and offers optional two-factor authentication by text message or similar method.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Privacy
- The privacy notice says data is processed in the UK and that third parties do not access personal data unless the law allows it.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Support
- The site lists [email protected] for support questions.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Headquarters
- Birmingham, United KingdomRead 28 Sep 2026 · vat.direct
- Company
- The maker identifies Cirrostratus Exedra Ltd, trading as Cirrostratus, as the data controller and processor, at 78 Alcester Road, Birmingham B13 8BB.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Accounting basis
- Free digital records require cash-basis accounts, while the cashbook also supports standard VAT accounting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- API access
- The API can provide bank statement information and HMRC tax information; users obtain an authorisation token after logging in.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- API authorization
- API users obtain an authorization token after logging in and selecting a legal entity.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- API tooling
- Documentation directs developers to copy a Swagger/OpenAPI definition into Swagger Editor or Postman for testing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Browser requirement
- Account creation works best with Chrome; the page warns that Edge can be unreliable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · newaccounts.vat.direct
- Cashbook transaction limit
- The free digital-record service is intended for businesses below the VAT threshold and allows up to 500 transactions per period.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Cloud cashbook
- The online cashbook stores VAT and Self Assessment records and links them to Making Tax Digital.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Company activity
- The company’s SIC classification is computer facilities management activities.Read 15 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Company founding
- Companies House records Cirrostratus Exedra Ltd as incorporated on 28 August 2018.Read 2 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Company headquarters
- Companies House lists the registered office at 78 Alcester Road, Birmingham, B13 8BB, United Kingdom.Read 15 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Company incorporation
- Companies House records Cirrostratus Exedra Ltd as an active private company incorporated on 28 August 2018.Read 15 Oct 2026 · find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk
- Construction reverse charge
- The cashbook supports Domestic Reverse Charge VAT for construction and tracks CIS payments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- CSV mapping
- CSV files use BOX1 through BOX9 codes, with PERIODEND and VRNVERIFY available for validation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Data residency
- The privacy notice says all data is processed in the UK.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Documentation depth
- The cashbook help page says only limited information has been written and that more answers may be added later.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Founder background
- In parliamentary evidence, John Hemming said he created Cirrostratus Exedra as a provider of Making Tax Digital software after earlier technology businesses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · committees.parliament.uk
- HMRC authority duration
- HMRC guidance states that software authority to access VAT data lasts 18 months.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gov.uk
- HMRC reauthorization
- HMRC authorization for VAT access must be renewed every 18 months.Read 15 Oct 2026 · something.vat.direct
- HMRC support boundary
- HMRC says software users should contact their software provider for software problems, while HMRC handles legal MTD requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gov.uk
- HMRC tax API
- The API can also retrieve tax information from HMRC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Independent feature summary
- The same independent guide lists spreadsheet imports and Flat Rate Scheme support for VAT Direct.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mytaxaccountant.co.uk
- Independent guidance
- HMRC describes bridging software as a way to connect spreadsheets or other non-compatible systems to HMRC for VAT filing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gov.uk
- Independent listing
- My Tax Accountant lists VAT Direct as free bridging software for VAT and Income Tax submissions aimed at small businesses and self-employed users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · mytaxaccountant.co.uk
- Licence
- The website licence permits temporary viewing only and prohibits copying, modification, reverse engineering and redistribution.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Limit: premium pricing
- Premium services are offered, but the site gives no prices and instructs buyers to contact support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Limit: tax taxonomy support
- The cashbook does not currently handle FRC Taxonomies.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Multi-entity support
- Each account can contain multiple legal entities, and each organization receives a separate web domain.Read 15 Oct 2026 · something.vat.direct
- Notable limitation
- The cashbook does not currently handle FRC Taxonomies.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Open Banking
- The service can load bank statements into its cashbook, supports multiple bank, cash and credit card accounts, and offers an API to download bank data.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Open Banking API
- A REST API can download bank-statement data from Open Banking connections into external systems or spreadsheets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Open Banking integration
- Open Banking lets users load bank statements automatically into the cashbook, including multiple bank, cash and credit-card accounts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Open-source components
- The server uses open-source components including OpenJDK, Jetty, Tomcat, SIP.js, Openfire and other JavaScript and Java libraries under their original licences.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Operational notice
- The home page reports planned server upgrades and temporary downtime for maintenance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Partial exemption
- The cashbook allows users to mark only part of a transaction as VAT-allowable for partial exemption.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Privacy controls
- The provider says third parties do not access personal data unless legally permitted, while HMRC anti-fraud processing may transmit device details.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Regulatory registration
- The site states that Cirrostratus Exedra Ltd is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority for payment services as an account information service provider.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- SAF-T
- Cirrostratus says it can produce OECD SAF-T transaction reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Security limitation
- The terms disclaim warranties and limit liability for data loss, profit loss and business interruption.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Spreadsheet bridging
- Return data can be imported from spreadsheets or CSV files, so businesses can keep existing accounting systems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Spreadsheet submissions
- Users can submit VAT return data from CSV files generated by spreadsheets or other computer systems, without replacing their existing accounting system.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Test submissions
- Users can submit test VAT returns to an HMRC test server, but test returns are fixed in 2017.Read 15 Oct 2026 · something.vat.direct
- Transaction limit
- The free digital-record service for smaller businesses is limited to 500 transactions per period and requires cash-basis accounts.Read 2 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- Two-factor authentication
- The service includes optional SMS-based two-factor authentication and HMRC anti-fraud headers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
- VAT schemes
- The cashbook supports Flat Rate, retail, margin, traditional and EC VAT schemes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
Plans and prices
Basic service Free free VAT and Income Tax Self Assessment bridging · digital records below VAT threshold · maximum 500 transactions per period · cash-basis accounts Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
Premium services Priced on request contact provider Open Banking, Making Tax Digital and other add-ons · tailored servers · consolidated subsidiary balances Read 15 Oct 2026 · vat.direct
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Submit VAT return data from CSV files.
- Cashbook supports standard or cash-basis accounting.
- Open Banking can load multiple account statements.
- API provides bank statement and HMRC tax information.
Limits
- Free digital records capped at 500 transactions per period.
- Free digital-record service requires cash-basis accounts.
- Cashbook does not handle FRC Taxonomies.
- Premium service pricing requires contacting the provider.
Who it suits
VAT Direct may suit businesses that want to submit VAT data from CSV files without replacing their accounting system. Its free digital-record service is specifically limited to smaller businesses below the VAT threshold using cash-basis accounts.
Verdict
VAT Direct offers a free basic service alongside cashbook, CSV submission, and API functions. Check the transaction cap and accounting-basis requirement if you need its free digital-record service.
Where Specifiction places it
- VAT Software#6 of 268.1
